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Seek ye first the kingdom of God and his righteousness and all these things shall be added unto you.
Matt 6:33. (King James Version)

In our imagination these words are coming from the lips of Jesus as he gives the Sermon on the Mount. The multitude before him listen attentively to hear every word. His hands express the urgency of his message and his eyes are filled with deep concern.

Could it be he is speaking to us in a call to worship? On looking more closely we see that this is the risen Christ. The halo around his head and the nail print on his ankle tell of his spiritual nature.

This painting expresses our belief that the life and spirit of Christ was not confined to Galilee. He is known to the men and women of history and to the people of every nation. The two globes at his feet remind us that he came to proclaim the love of God, who is the Father of all people.

His face is strong and his eyes are kind and understanding. His suffering and death lead us to see a quality we need. In his deeply lined face, not dimmed of eye or broken in spirit, there is confidence and faith.

The hands in this painting so characterize Christ as to create a mood that leads the viewer to feel a close identification with him.

This painting is more than thirty feet in height, and its infinite detail in the fabric of the cloth, the flowing folds of the robe, and the balance of shadow and light all contribute to harmony and symmetry in this magnificent figure of Christ.]]> photo Thu, 13 Mar 2008 22:59:31 -0500 http://2ndbc.serverforest.com/photos/v/windows/sanctuary.JPG.html http://2ndbc.serverforest.com/photos/v/windows/sanctuary.JPG.html ]]> photo Thu, 13 Mar 2008 22:59:31 -0500 http://2ndbc.serverforest.com/photos/v/windows/righteous.JPG.html http://2ndbc.serverforest.com/photos/v/windows/righteous.JPG.html
Blessed are they which do hunger and thirst after righteousness for they shall be filled.
Matt 5:6. (King James Version)


In all religious literature Job stands out as a person who would not give up his search for God. He was afflicted by disease and his body was marked by its scars. Members of his family were taken captive and others were killed in a storm. Fire destroyed his property. Marauding bands carried away his flocks and servants. The scripture tells us he was a dependable and upright man. Still his wife and friends gave him little comfort as he struggled with doubts about himself and the goodness of God. They expressed the traditional thinking of their day, saying that the sinful suffer and the righteous are rewarded. Job was being punished for his sins. He could not accept the belief that only the sinful suffered. He was convinced that the innocent suffered as well.

Neither could he accept the thought of an unjust and unloving God. With all the tragedies and misfortunes that had happened to him, and in spite of all his friends and the prevailing thought of the time, he would not accept this unworthy thought about God. Nor would he give up his integrity because of the pressures placed upon him.

In this painting he is a majestic figure as he steadfastly holds to his course. He raises his hand in confidence and plants his rod in the ground and begins to rise to his feet, saying, "Though he slay me yet will I trust him . . . I know that my redeemer liveth." (Job 13:15, 19:25)

This painting expresses two prevailing moods. First is the mood of misery, defeat, despair and death as signified by the skull at his feet. This is seen also in the scars of disease and in his face worn by fear and exhaustion. The second mood is a mood of faith. His face is earnest but composed. Confidence is beginning to show in his eyes. He has a strong, firm grip on his rod ready to rise. His right hand is uplifted, expressing triumph and hope.]]> photo Thu, 13 Mar 2008 23:04:17 -0500 http://2ndbc.serverforest.com/photos/v/windows/righteous-hand.JPG.html http://2ndbc.serverforest.com/photos/v/windows/righteous-hand.JPG.html ]]> photo Thu, 13 Mar 2008 22:54:22 -0500 http://2ndbc.serverforest.com/photos/v/windows/pure.jpg.html http://2ndbc.serverforest.com/photos/v/windows/pure.jpg.html
Blessed are the pure in heart, for they shall see God.
Matt. 5:8. (King James Version)



This window portrays Jesus at the beginning of his ministry when he was tempted by the devil. As he goes through this inner struggle with conflicting thoughts and feelings, he is tempted to accept selfish motives and resort to unworthy acts. In this situation his singleness of purpose throws light on what purity of heart means. (Matt. 4:1 - 11)

The intensity of this experience is dramatized in this encounter with the devil. The devil is shown with all his diabolical cunning. He is a crafty and repulsive figure, both male and female, with his distorted head, piercing eyes, misshapen body, boney fingers and arms, and serpentine tail. He presses his body against Jesus as he urges him to accept his proposals ant the rewards this will bring.

The first temptation is to turn the stones at his feet into bread and appease his hunger. To this Jesus answers, "Man shall not live by bread alone, but by every word that proceeds out of the mouth of God."

With the second temptation, Jesus is taken to the pinnacle of the temple, seen in the distance in this painting. And here the devil says, "If you are the son of God, cast yourself down and show that no harm will come to you." He was tempted to think of himself as having immunity from harm, which other people did not have. It was an appeal to the spectacular. Jesus answered, "Thou shalt not tempt the Lord thy God."

In the third temptation, Jesus is taken onto a high mountain and shown all the kingdoms of the world. The devil offers the leadership of all these nations to him. And as he speaks, he temptingly holds the golden crown for Jesus to see. Immediately he responds, "Get thee hence, Satan, for it is written, 'Thou shalt worship the Lord thy God, and Him only shalt thou serve.'"
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Blessed are they which are persecuted for righteousness' sake: for theirs is the kingdom of heaven.
Matt. 5:10. (King James Version)



The first window is a call to worship and this last window is a call to service.

The experience of worship is preparation for living. It gives the insight and the will to put one's beliefs into practice. Serving others gives integrity to faith. Seeing Jesus on the cross reminds us of his words, "If any man will come after me, let him deny himself and take up his cross and follow me." (Matt. 16:24)

This painting emphasized the humanity of Jesus. Here we see him as a robust, vigorous man with a fine physique. He has well-developed muscular arms, shoulders and chest. He is no weakling and he is not submissive. His head is erect and his whole bearing expresses resistance and strength. In these moments of agony one sees the hand of God supporting him, and his last words come to mind: "Father, into they hands I commit my spirit." (Luke 23:46)

There is a decided contrast between this portrayal of Jesus and the figure of Christ in the third window. When we think of his humility, his concern for the poor, his thoughts of turning the other cheek, loving one's enemies and returning good for evil, we think of a gentle person. But in his gentleness there is also strength. To stand unwavering for the truths he stood for required great physical stamina as well as inner commitment to God. Power held in restraint is power of the highest order, for then the possession of strength is the power to control that strength. It takes strength to be gentle.

This emphasis on his humanity reassures us that he faced life as we must face it. He was not exempt from the baffling circumstances, the temptations and the tragedies we experience. Here on the cross is a man who is struck down and killed in the prime of life. No tragedy is greater than this. His answer to this mystery is found in his words: "Greater love has no man than this, that he lay down his life for his friends . . . Love one another." (John 15:13, 17)]]> photo Thu, 13 Mar 2008 23:06:44 -0500 http://2ndbc.serverforest.com/photos/v/windows/peace.jpg.html http://2ndbc.serverforest.com/photos/v/windows/peace.jpg.html
Blessed are the peacemakers: for they shall be called the children of God.
Matt. 5:9. (King James Version)



Saul, a man of violence, became Paul the Reconciler. On the road to Damascus on a mission to persecute Christians, a sudden light flashed above him. As he fell to the ground, a voice said, "Saul, Saul, why do you persecute me. I am Jesus . . . Rise and stand upon your feet . . . for I appoint you . . to open the eyes of the people that they may turn from the power of Satan to God." (Acts 9:1 - 20)

With this revelation and conversion, he rises to devote his life to proclaiming the Gospel of Peace. From this time on he did more than any other person who ever lived to interpret the transforming power of the love of God in the sacrificial life of Jesus Christ. He became the author of the greatest love passage ever written, including these words: "Love suffereth long and is kind. Love beareth all things, believeth all things, hopeth all things, endureth all things. Love never fails." (1 Cor. 13:4, 7, 8)

In this scene the explosion of light brings with it a vision seen earlier by the prophet Isaiah of a sword broken in pieces, expressing the age old hope for peace in the world. "And the Lord shall judge among the nations and shall rebuke many people; and they shall beat their swords into plowshares and their spears into pruning-hooks. Nation shall not lift up sword against nation, neither shall they learn war anymore." (Isaiah 2:4)

Again, in this painting the hands give great emphasis to the feelings being expressed. Awe, amazement, joy, and hope are expressed in the motion of Paul's uplifted hands. Peace has come into his world.]]> photo Thu, 13 Mar 2008 23:06:44 -0500 http://2ndbc.serverforest.com/photos/v/windows/mourn.jpg.html http://2ndbc.serverforest.com/photos/v/windows/mourn.jpg.html
Blessed are they that mourn for they shall be comforted.

Matt. 5:4. (King James Version)

The figure of Christ is caught in the mesh of cogs and wheels which symbolize our machine age. We live in a civilization which places the highest value on profits, production, and possessions. Men, women and children are exploited. Christ enters into this kind of impersonal, mechanized society. He identifies with those who suffer and cannot extricate themselves from this system. Many are trapped as he is here with the assembly line and the never ending monotony. There is in this system also the hopelessness that comes out of success in achieving inadequate goals, goals that foster selfishness and diminish human concern.

In this painting Christ seems to have folded his hands and closed his eyes in sad acceptance of being caught in an inescapable situation. It is not in acceptance, however, but in identification with all of us who are caught in the plight of a faltering economy, with inflation, high interest rates and unemployment: a situation in which people want to work but there are no jobs available, and poverty brings disillusionment and despair. With all our technology and industrial skills to increase production and develop natural resources, we cannot find a way to cope with hunger and destitution in the human family.

In the midst of the wheels surrounding Christ, there is the cross. The way out of this predicament is symbolized by a willingness to identify with those who are most adversely affected, to sacrificially share one's own advantages in order to bring into being a plan of living that will meet the needs of all people.]]> photo Thu, 13 Mar 2008 23:04:17 -0500 http://2ndbc.serverforest.com/photos/v/windows/mercy.jpg.html http://2ndbc.serverforest.com/photos/v/windows/mercy.jpg.html
Blessed are the merciful, they shall find mercy.
Matt. 5:7. (James Moffatt Version)



Broken, bruised, and neglected humanity is symbolized in the figure by the roadside. He represents the sick, the hungry and the underprivileged of the earth.

The Good Samaritan, who shows mercy to him, personifies the spirit of love which leads a person to identify with all human beings in need. (Luke 10:29-37)

The painting shows the injured man after his wounds have been treated and bandaged. The Good Samaritan has gone beyond meeting his physical needs and has taken this man into his arms to reassure and comfort him.

Mercy goes beyond the immediate need, beyond what is expected and beyond duty; mercy gives substance and depth to caring for someone.

The face, the hands, and even the posture of the Good Samaritan convey the mood of deep concern. In the same way, the face, the hands, and the posture of the injured man convey the mood of helplessness and dire distress.

"Who is my neighbor, and to whom is mercy to be shown?" was the question asked. Jesus in the story answered, "Any person in need is my neighbor."

The Samaritan was not an acceptable person to the Jew, but he did not let the barrier of prejudice keep him from coming to the aid of this fellow human being in distress. Often an excuse is made for not helping other people. "They do not deserve to be helped." But mercy asks for no qualifications. Mercy draws heavily on forgiveness and love. "Mercy begets mercy" is the promise in this Beatitude. "The merciful shall find mercy." Certainly the opposite is true, cruelty begets cruelty, terrorism begets terrorism, and war begets war.]]> photo Thu, 13 Mar 2008 23:06:43 -0500 http://2ndbc.serverforest.com/photos/v/windows/humble.jpg.html http://2ndbc.serverforest.com/photos/v/windows/humble.jpg.html
Blessed are the humble, they will inherit the earth.
Matt. 5:5. (James Moffatt Version)


This is the creation window. Central in this painting is the hand of God. He created the heaven and the earth and all living things.

A cataclysmic explosion has occurred. The atmosphere is filled with a burst of flame and rushing water. All the necessary elements of the universe have combined and synthesized to bring the earth and life into being.

A pine tree is firmly rooted in the rocky mountain side, surrounded with air, sun, and rain, with nourishment to sustain its growth.

As we ponder the mystery of our existence and try to answer the question of where we came from and how it is possible for us to live in each succeeding day, we are aware of our dependence upon a power over which we have no control. Who we are, how we live, and what we become has been given to us. We are not the Creator; we are the recipients. We have been entrusted with the capacity to appropriate and use the resources for our growth and fulfillment.

The unseen power of life and growth is symbolized by the open hand of God and the flame of his spirit. Our awareness of our dependence on God is the ground out of which humility and meekness grow. When we are most aware of who we are, we know that it is in God that we live and move and have our being.

Humility and meekness are not apathy, weakness or lack of spirit, but rather humility is power blended with gentleness. It is the majesty of self-control. It is the high state of mind in which all of our faculties function under the sway of the divine spirit.
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